Late Wednesday afternoon, The New York Post was the first to report on a photo taken by an AFP photojournalist which appeared to show that President Joe Biden had advanced knowledge of at least one reporter's question (LA Times reporter Courtney Subramanian), during Wednesday's joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The photo quickly spread online with dozens of conservative outlets picking up the story. By the 6 pm hour on Fox News, Special Report anchor Bret Baier asked Fox's White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich about the scandal. Curiously, the big three evening news broadcasts had no interest in reporting that Biden's White House was apparently now screening reporters' questions for the geriatric President.
Instead, all three networks (ABC's World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, & NBC Nightly News) led their newscasts with the weather. NBC Nightly News also wasted an entire two minutes and fifty-two seconds on a segment dedicated to Menopause.
While the three networks were wasting their viewers' time, Special Report anchor Bret Baier turned to Heinrich to ask her about what happened at the White House today.
"Jacqui, today the President took a few questions and listen, we always know now that this President has a list of who he’s gonna call on and maybe the order but today seemed like he had a heads up on what the question would be," Baier asked.
"In his hand, the name outlet and question from that LA Times reporter which reads 'How are you squaring your domestic priorities like re-shoring semiconductors manufacturing with alliance-based foreign policy?' She was only one of two American reporters who were formally called on today," Heinrich reported.
Adding: "We should note the question that she actually spoke and asked the President was quite a bit more elaborate. But Biden certainly got a heads up on the topic and the general thrust of her question."
Baier jumped in to note that this was not how things were supposed to be done: "I covered the White House, sometimes the White House folks say you may get a question. But in my days they never said what exactly is your question. That hasn't been policy, has it?"
"It has not and I don't believe that is something that happens here regularly. At least that we’re aware of," Heinrich noted.
You would think the networks would have some questions about this, but like most other controversies surrounding Biden, they sweep it under the rug.
This bias by omission from the three networks was made possible by Ensure on ABC, ADT on CBS, & Red Lobster on NBC. Their information is linked.
The transcript is below:
FNC’s Special Report
4/26/2023
6:11:56 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Jacqui, today the President took a few questions and listen, we always know now that this President has a list of who he’s gonna call on and maybe the order but today seemed like he had a heads up on what the question would be. Questions.
JACQUI HEINRICH: Yeah, that’s right. A photographer in the White House press corps got a picture of the President’s placard just take a look here. In his hand, the name outlet and question from that LA Times reporter which reads how are you squaring your domestic priorities like re-shoring semiconductors manufacturing with alliance-based foreign policy? She was only one of two American reporters who were formally called on today. We should note the question that she actually spoke and asked the President was quite a bit more elaborate. But Biden certainly got a heads up on the topic and the general thrust of her question, Brett.
BAIER: And just quickly, I mean I covered the White House, sometimes the White House folks say you may get a question. But in my days they never said what exactly is your question. That hasn't been policy, has it?
HEINRICH: It has not and I don't believe that is something that happens here regularly. At least that we’re aware of. That being said, The President never calls on Fox, so—
BAIER: We can only hope.
HEINRICH: We just shout at him.
BAIER: That's Jackie Heinrich live on the North Lawn. Jacqui, thanks.
